Operations Director

This position will be posted until March 19th. At that time all candidates will be reviewed and contacted. All candidates must apply on our website at

Elinor Coatings creates solutions for corrosion, degradation, and fouling through research in surface protection. We value environmental sustainability and conservation and diversity in backgrounds, experiences, and personalities. This role will support federal contracts in aerospace and ground vehicle support.

The Operations Director is responsible for overseeing daily operations across research, testing, and manufacturing aspects of the coatings business, including quality and continuous improvement initiatives, administration, IT, cybersecurity, supply chain, safety, staffing, and training. This role ensures operational excellence, cost efficiency, and compliance with federal and industry standards while supporting strategic growth objectives. The Operations Director develops and leads a high-performing operations team including Operations Assistant, Office Coordinator, Procurement, and Health & Safety to ensure capacity planning and resource allocation for current and future demand.

Reports to the CEO.

• Maintain compliance with ISO
  9001/AS9100, and applicable regulatory standards.
• Oversee quality assurance programs, audits, and corrective actions.
• Ensure adherence to safety, environmental, and export control regulations (ITAR/EAR).

• Implement training and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Optimize company processes for efficiency and quality.
• Drive automation and digitalization projects to enhance throughput and reduce waste.

• Manage procurement, vendor relationships, and raw material sourcing for coating operations.
• Oversee inventory accuracy.
• Ensure timely delivery of materials and components for government and commercial programs.

• Develop and manage operational budgets, cost controls, and performance metrics.
• Monitor KPIs and procedures included in the Elinor QMS and QMS Implementation plan.
• Support pricing strategies and cost estimates for proposals and production programs.

• Partner with R&D to transition new coating technologies from lab to production.
• Work with Program Managers to meet government contract deliverables and timelines.
• Support Business Development with operational input for proposals and customer engagements.

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Engineering, Materials Science, Operations Management, or related field; MBA or advanced degree in a related field is preferred.
• Proven track record in scaling production and implementing lean/continuous improvement.

• 10+ years of experience in manufacturing or operations leadership, preferably in coatings or advanced materials.
• Strong knowledge of coating technologies and related equipment.
• Familiarity with AS9100, ISO 9001, and regulatory compliance (ITAR/EAR).
• Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience in aerospace, defense, or high-tech manufacturing environments.
• Knowledge of ERP systems and MES tools.
• Background in government contract manufacturing and quality compliance.

• Full Time/Benefited
• 401K Match
• Employee Assistance Program
• 100% paid employee healthcare, vision, dental, disability and life insurance
• Starting PTO is 16 days annually with 14 paid holidays and 12 paid sick days